A British man and his Greek wife are believed to be among those killed in a building collapse near the Acropolis in Athens, according to local media reports.
Rescue workers retrieved six bodies following an explosion in the Plaka tourist area on Friday morning, as reported by Greek broadcaster ERT.
The UK national and his spouse were reportedly in their 70s and resided on the second floor overlooking the Hadrian’s Gate monument.
American tourists who were staying in a short-term holiday let on the first floor also died in the incident, ERT reported.
Photographs from the scene show emergency crews searching through the flattened remains of the collapsed building.
The blast was likely caused by a massive gas leak, Athens mayor Haris Doukas said on Friday night.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: "We are aware of a suspected explosion in Athens and are in touch with the local authorities.
"We stand ready to offer assistance to British nationals abroad 24/7."
Search teams equipped with cameras, sensors and rescue dogs recovered the bodies after the building collapse in the Greek capital, fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis confirmed in a televised briefing.
Rescuers wearing heavy gear and red helmets cleared debris while searching for an elderly couple who resided in one flat and four tourists staying in another.
A police source revealed that the tourists, comprising two American couples, had been due to catch a 3pm flight from Athens airport on Friday but failed to appear.
Investigators from the fire service's crime unit are on site to establish the cause of the blast amid reports of a gas smell in the district, which features numerous hotels and short-term rentals.
The blast on Friday destroyed the building in Plaka, situated near major historic landmarks including the Acropolis and the Temple of Zeus.
Rubble and shattered glass were flung up to three blocks, causing damage to nearby houses, shops and vehicles.
On Saturday, ambulances waited to convey the victims to hospital for identification, leaving the scene reduced to twisted metal, concrete and scattered household items.
